Topical Bible: Priest: The Time of Moses

◄ Priest: The Time of Moses ►

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In the biblical narrative, the role of the priest during the time of Moses is foundational to understanding the religious and societal structure of ancient Israel. The priesthood was established by God as a means to mediate between Himself and the people of Israel, serving as a crucial component of the covenantal relationship.

Establishment of the Priesthood

The priesthood was instituted by God through Moses, as recorded in the Book of Exodus. Aaron, the brother of Moses, was appointed as the first high priest, and his descendants were designated as the priestly line. This divine appointment is detailed in Exodus 28:1 : "And bring near to you your brother Aaron and his sons from among the Israelites to serve Me as priests—Aaron and his sons Nadab and Abihu, Eleazar and Ithamar."

Priestly Garments and Consecration

The priests were distinguished by their sacred garments, which were designed to reflect their holy service. These garments included the ephod, breastpiece, robe, tunic, turban, and sash, each with specific symbolic significance. Exodus 28:2 states, "Make holy garments for your brother Aaron, to give him glory and splendor."

The consecration of Aaron and his sons is described in Exodus 29, where they were anointed and sanctified for their service. This involved a series of sacrifices and rituals, emphasizing the holiness required of those who would approach God on behalf of the people.

Duties and Responsibilities

The primary duties of the priests included offering sacrifices, maintaining the Tabernacle, and teaching the Law. Leviticus 10:11 highlights their instructional role: "You must teach the Israelites all the statutes that the LORD has given to them through Moses."

The priests were responsible for performing the daily and special sacrifices, as outlined in Leviticus. They acted as intermediaries, presenting offerings to God and seeking atonement for the sins of the people. The Day of Atonement, described in Leviticus 16, was a significant annual event where the high priest entered the Holy of Holies to make atonement for the nation.

The Tabernacle and the Presence of God

The Tabernacle, a portable sanctuary, was the center of Israelite worship during the wilderness period. The priests were tasked with its care and operation, ensuring that the rituals were conducted according to divine instructions. Exodus 40:34-35 describes the presence of God filling the Tabernacle: "Then the cloud covered the Tent of Meeting, and the glory of the LORD filled the tabernacle. Moses could not enter the Tent of Meeting because the cloud had settled on it, and the glory of the LORD filled the tabernacle."

Holiness and the Priestly Code

The priesthood was governed by strict codes of conduct, emphasizing purity and holiness. Leviticus 21 outlines the regulations for priests, including restrictions on marriage and contact with the dead, underscoring their need to remain ceremonially clean.

Challenges and Failures

Despite their sacred calling, the priests were not immune to failure. The tragic account of Nadab and Abihu, Aaron's sons, in Leviticus 10:1-2 serves as a sobering reminder of the consequences of disobedience: "Now Aaron’s sons Nadab and Abihu took their censers, put fire in them and added incense; and they offered unauthorized fire before the LORD, contrary to His command. So fire came out from the presence of the LORD and consumed them, and they died before the LORD."

Legacy and Significance

The priesthood established during the time of Moses set a precedent for the religious life of Israel, continuing through the Levitical line. It foreshadowed the ultimate High Priest, Jesus Christ, who would fulfill and transcend the Old Testament priestly system. The Mosaic priesthood remains a vital aspect of biblical theology, illustrating the necessity of mediation between a holy God and sinful humanity.

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Exodus 28:1-4
And take you to you Aaron your brother, and his sons with him, from among the children of Israel, that he may minister to me in the priest's office, even Aaron, Nadab and Abihu, Eleazar and Ithamar, Aaron's sons.
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Exodus 29:9,44
And you shall gird them with girdles, Aaron and his sons, and put the bonnets on them: and the priest's office shall be theirs for a perpetual statute: and you shall consecrate Aaron and his sons.
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Numbers 3:10
And you shall appoint Aaron and his sons, and they shall wait on their priest's office: and the stranger that comes near shall be put to death.
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Numbers 18:7
Therefore you and your sons with you shall keep your priest's office for everything of the altar, and within the veil; and you shall serve: I have given your priest's office to you as a service of gift: and the stranger that comes near shall be put to death.
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1 Chronicles 23:13
The sons of Amram; Aaron and Moses: and Aaron was separated, that he should sanctify the most holy things, he and his sons for ever, to burn incense before the LORD, to minister to him, and to bless in his name for ever.
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Library

The Egyptians Place Moses in the Reign of Inachus.
... Ptolemy, not the king, but a priest of Mendes, is the ... to the places whither they
went occurred in the time of king Amosis, under the leadership of Moses. ...
/.../tatians address to the greeks/chapter xxxviii the egyptians place moses.htm

The Boyhood and Training of Moses
... One time, after Moses had grown up, he went out to ... he tried to put Moses to death;
but Moses left the ... by a well, the seven daughters of the priest of Midian ...
/.../sherman/the childrens bible/the boyhood and training of.htm

Moses.
... care of the flocks of a priest called Jethro. He also married Jethro's daughter.
[Illustration: THE GOOD SAMARITAN.]. After a time, God spoke to Moses out of a ...
//christianbookshelf.org/anonymous/wee ones bible stories/moses.htm

High Priest
... we derive the following information: The priest under the ... till after the promulgation
of the law of Moses. Before that time the first born of every family, the ...
/.../conversion of a high priest into a christian worker/chapter iv high priest.htm

Antiquity of Moses Proved.
... existed only the history of the prophet Moses, which he ... this from a very aged Egyptian
priest, who said ... nor any system of instruction hoary with time; but all ...
/.../chapter xii antiquity of moses proved.htm

The Law Anterior to Moses.
... eternal life, [1158] he might by this time show us that we also may, without the
burden of the law of Moses, please God. Melchizedek also, "the priest of the ...
/.../tertullian/an answer to the jews/chapter ii the law anterior to.htm

Was Moses "A Literary Fiction"?
... to in 2 Chronicles 34:14, 15; "Hilkiah the priest found the ... The Book of the Law of
Moses" was the Jewish title given to the Pentateuch at that time, and is ...
/.../iii was moses a literary.htm

The Story of Moses, the Child who was Found in the River
... But at that time he found that he could do nothing to ... Moses saw it, and helped the
women and drew the water for ... of a man named Jethro, who was a priest in the ...
/.../marshall/the wonder book of bible stories/the story of moses the.htm

The Attack on the Book of Leviticus.
... a fraud, writing was constantly in use in the time of Moses ... Exodus 34:27: "And the
Lord said unto Moses, Write thou ... 5) Numbers 5:23: "And the priest shall write ...
/.../concerning the assumptions of destructive criticism/v the attack on the.htm

The Ministerial Office
... 4. From the time of Noah to that of Moses the same observation may be made. The
eldest of the family was the Priest, but any other might be the Prophet. ...
/.../wesley/sermons on several occasions/sermon 115 the ministerial office.htm